Pivotal Moment for UKZN Pop and Jazz Voice Students
Five University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Pop and Jazz Voice students, from the Music Discipline in the School of Arts successfully auditioned to sing with the acclaimed KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra (KZNPO) for a special Mother’s Day concert held at the Pavilion Shopping Centre in Durban.
The Music Discipline has a long-standing relationship with the KZNPO which regularly presents concerts in collaboration with the Discipline often featuring both staff and students.
Said Ms Debbie Mari: “Our Music students have been invited to perform with the KZNPO at several campus lunch-hour concerts over the years and more recently at special events such as the recent Mothers’ Day Concert.”
The session was free and open to the public and featured UKZN Music students as soloists.
Mari said such events developed the abilities of students within their Discipline. “It is a wonderful opportunity for our Music students as it gives them valuable real-world insight into the professional music industry.”
She said current resident conductor Mr Chad Hendricks was an inspiration to the students – “he is young, approachable and so generous with his time, offering meaningful mentorship opportunities to our students whenever they get to work with the orchestra.”
The UKZN Music Discipline is recognised nationally and internationally for its creative work and published research, currently offering studies in African Music and Dance, Ethnomusicology, Opera, Jazz, Pop, Western Classical Music and Music Technology.
Words: Sinoyolo Mahlasela
Photographs: Debbie Mari
